Atty. Robert Burch
Robert Burch is the founder and managing partner of the law firm. He has been certified by the Board of Legal Specialization as a specialist in family law since 2007.
Child Custody & Visitation & More Attorney · Serving Newport Beach, CA · 29+ Years Experience
Profile Summary
About Robert Burch at a Glance
Robert Burch is a Member based in Newport Beach, California, practicing at Burch Shepard Family Law Group. They have 29+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1997. Their practice focuses on divorce, child custody, family law, real estate, and child support. Admitted to practice in California (1997) and Connecticut (1997). Educated at University of San Diego School of Law (J.D., 1996) and Washington University (B.A., 1992). Recognitions include Peer Reviewed. Serves clients in Newport Beach, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About Robert Burch
- Robert Burch is the founder and managing partner of the law firm
- He has been certified by the Board of Legal Specialization as a specialist in family law since 2007
- Attorney Burch has practiced exclusively in family law for his entire career and has handled all types of family law matters
- Attorney Burch’s passion and career focus has been on the financial issues in divorce with a particular emphasis on representing business owners or their spouses and handling complex marital estates
- He has worked on marital estates involving as much as five hundred million dollars and his clients have received child support and spousal support awards as high as $125,000 per month
- Attorney Burch also focuses on child custody matters and has litigated several international custody cases
- He was one of the primary attorneys in the well-publicized international custody case described by the media as the "Baby Santina” case
- In the "Baby Santina" case, Burch and his co-counsel defeated a team of four attorneys led by Gloria Allred
- Attorney Burch presently serves as the President of the Family Law Section for the Orange County Bar Association and has been elected by his family law colleagues to several positions on the Executive Committee for the Family Law Section
- Attorney Burch has written numerous articles or essays for legal publications throughout the State of California
- He also teaches Continuing Legal Education courses in family law, including courses to provide education credits to family law specialists
- Attorney Burch works closely with family law bench officers as a member of the Executive Committee of the family law section for the pat seven years
- Attorney Burch has received recognition from several independent rating services for his work in family law, including being selected by Super Lawyer magazine as a Super Lawyer in family law for Southern California every year since 2015; earning the highest rating (10.0) from the lawyer rating agency AVVO since 2010; and being recognized by OC Metro Magazine as one of the top family law attorneys in Orange County
- Certified Legal Specialties • Board Certified Family Law Specialist, State Bar of California, 2007 Specialized training: • Graduate- Advanced College of Trial Advocacy – Business Valuation, American Bar Association Family Law Section, 2007 • Graduate- College of Trial Advocacy, American Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2006 • Advisory Board- Divorce Magazine, Divorce Magazine, 2012 • Volunteer Arbitrator, Orange County Bar Association Committee For Mandatory Fee Arbitration, 2005 to present • Judge Pro Tem – Orange County Superior Court • Course in Art Of Negotiation– Georgetown School Of Law Speaking Engagements • Moderator, Meet the Judges: A Discussion of Policies and Preferences and Standing Orders with the Honorable Eric Wersching, the Honorable Sherri Honer and the Honorable Mary Kreber, August 2022 • Moderator for seminar:, Mediation & Family Court Services from A-Z, June 29, 2022, • Speaker, How to Navigate The Nuances of Business Valuation, with Judge Julie Palafox and Drew Hunt, November 2021 • Speaker, Marital Standard of Living: What to know, with Judge Julie Palafox and Drew Hunt, February 2021 • Chair of OCBA family law section evening seminar (October 2019): Down the Rabbit Hole: Presenting and Defending Attorney Fee Claims • Chair of the OCBA family law section evening seminar (October 2018); The Fiduciary Duty Minefield • Speaker, July 2018, Closing Arguments in Family Law; Association of Certified Family Law Specialists, with Judge Lon Hurwitz, Commissioner Barry Michaelson, and Lisa Hughes • Speaker, December 2017, Let’s Talk About….Contempt Of Court with Commissioner Richard Vogl and Robert Burch, CFLS, Carlotta Serna, Supervising Deputy DCSS, and Sandi Riddle, Deputy Department Counsel • Speaker, January 2017, Tax Crimes and Divorce, with Robert Burch and David Klasing • Speaker, November 20, 2014, Successful Enforcement: Strategies, Tools & Pitfalls with Commissioner Barry Michaelson, Joan Loos, Robert Burch • Speaker, Professionalism In Law, Western State College Of Law, 2014 • Speaker, Domestic Violence: how domestic violence affects custody orders, 2008 • Speaker, Basics of Property Division in Divorce: the basic principles for dividing property in divorce, 2008 • Speaker, Divorce Preparation: What steps you can take to protect your assets prior to filing for divorce, 2007 • Speaker, Child Custody Move Aways: How the courts decide whether one parent can move out of state with the minor child, 2006 • Speaker, Business Valuation in Divorce: what every small businessperson going through a divorce should know, 2006 Articles • Lavish Lifestyle Allows Deviation from Child Support Guideline, Los Angeles Daily Journal, June 11, 2002; • Courts Must Examine Statutory Factors Before Altering Support, Los Angeles Daily Journal, October 8, 2002; • In Re Marriage of Abrams – The Effect of Custody Stipulations on Move-Away Applications, Los Angeles Daily Journal, April 8, 2003; • Parents Can’t Submit Issue of Child Support to Binding Arbitration, Los Angeles Daily Journal, Fall 2003; • Purpose of Worker’s Compensation Award Is Crucial In Divorce, Los Angeles Daily Journal, April 13, 2004; • Jurisdiction Does Not Follow When Custodial Parent Moves, Los Angeles Daily Journal, December 1, 2005; • Valuation of Business Goodwill, Los Angeles Daily Journal, February 20, 2007; and • Spousal Support: Blazing New Trails, Los Angeles Daily Journal, December 1, 2009. • September 2021: The California Supreme Court Opens A Door And The Court Of Appeals Opens A Window, OCBA Family Law Section Newsletter • AUTHOR, The Impact Of Supreme Court Decisions On Public Opinion, Washington University, 1992 Pro Bono Activities • Arbitrator, Orange County Bar Association Committee for Mandatory Fee Arbitration • Temporary Judge, Orange County Superior Court Fraternities/Sororities • Pi Sigma Alpha Publications • The California Supreme Court Opens A Door And The Court Of Appeals Opens A Window2021 • Spousal Support: Blazing New Trails2009 • Valuation of Business Goodwill2007 • Jurisdiction Does Not Follow When Custodial Parent Moves2005 • Purpose of Worker's Compensation Award Is Crucial In Divorce2004 • The Effect of Custody Stipulations on Move-Away Applications2003 • Parents Can't Submit Issue of Child Support to Binding Arbitr...2003 • Lavish Lifestyle Allows Deviation From Child Support Guideline2002 • Courts Must Examine Statutory Factors Before Altering Support2002 • The Impact Of Supreme Court Decisions On Public Opinion1992 Memberships • American Bar Association • Orange County Bar Association • American Association for Justice • California State Bar, Family Law Section • American Bar Association, Family Law Section • American Association for Justice, Family Law Section • Orange County Bar Association, Family Law Section • Banyard Inn of Court • Advanced College of Trial Advocacy American Bar Association, Family Law Section • College of Trial Advocacy American Bar Association, Family Law Section • Los Angeles County Bar Association, Family Law Section • State Bar of California, Family Law Section • State Bar of California
Practice Areas Explained
Robert Burch's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Robert Burch handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in Newport Beach.
Divorce in Newport Beach
A divorce attorney guides you through property division, spousal support, custody, and the final decree — contested or uncontested.
Robert Burch is one of 50,071 divorce attorneys indexed nationally. Browse divorce attorneys in California →
Child Custody & Visitation in Newport Beach
Robert Burch is one of 30,982 child custody attorneys indexed nationally. Browse child custody attorneys in California →
Family Law in Newport Beach
Family law attorneys handle divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, prenups, and protective orders. Find verified family lawyers near you.
Robert Burch is one of 185,688 family law attorneys indexed nationally. Browse family law attorneys in California →
Real Estate Law in Newport Beach
Real estate attorneys handle home purchases, sales, commercial transactions, title disputes, and landlord-tenant matters.
Robert Burch is one of 313,729 real estate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse real estate attorneys in California →
Child Support in Newport Beach
Robert Burch is one of 24,443 child support attorneys indexed nationally. Browse child support attorneys in California →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Newport Beach
Practicing law in California. Legal matters in California are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Newport Beach are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate California state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in California brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in California courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Newport Beach Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Newport Beach-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional California attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Newport Beach or all attorneys in California.
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Professional Profile
Why Clients in Newport Beach Choose Robert Burch
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish Robert Burch's practice in the field of divorce, child custody, family law, real estate, and child support.
Decade-Tested Legal Experience
Robert Burch brings 29+ years of hands-on legal practice — enough to have navigated the recurring fact patterns, procedural traps, and negotiation dynamics that shape case outcomes.
Multi-State Bar Admission
Licensed in California and Connecticut, Robert Burch can represent clients in cases that span state lines or require counsel in multiple jurisdictions.
Broad Practice Area Coverage
Covering divorce, child custody, and family law, Robert Burch can address the full spectrum of a client's legal needs without requiring referrals to separate specialists for each issue.
Local Presence in Newport Beach
A Newport Beach-based practice means Robert Burch attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
Case Types
Common Legal Issues Robert Burch Handles in Newport Beach
Below is a representative sample of the types of matters Robert Burch has experience with under California law. If your situation involves one of these case categories, this attorney may be well positioned to help you understand your options.
This list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Contact Robert Burch directly to discuss the specifics of your situation.
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How People Find Robert Burch Online
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Robert Burch's Practice Areas & Specializations
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